The Two-Way

6:15 pm

Mon September 26, 2011

Senate Strikes Deal That Likely Averts Government Shutdown

It looks like the government will be funded until Nov. 18. According to multiple news reports, Senate leaders announced they have come to an agreement that will likely avoid a partial shutdown of the government.

As we've reported, Republicans and Democrats were at an impasse over extra funding for the cash strapped Federal Emergency Management Agency. Democrats wanted to give the extra funds to the agency, while Republicans proposed handing it over, only if spending cuts elsewhere paid for it.

As the AP reports, the breakthrough came after the agency told Congress it had enough money to operate until Friday, the end of the fiscal year. The extra funding was cut from the Senate bill and it's now expected to pass both chambers without issue.

The AP adds:

Senate passage of the legislation was expected within hours. There was no immediate comment from Republican leaders in the House, although their agreement seemed a formality.

The events assured there would be no interruption in assistance in areas battered by disasters such as Hurricane Irene and last summer's tornados in Joplin, Mo., and also that the government would be able to run normally when the new budget year begins on Saturday.

Politico does sound a note of caution, saying that FEMA officials said "their projections are tentative and fluid and could easily change if there's a significant uptick in the number of claims requesting emergency assistance or if another disaster strikes."